Omega-3 helps prevent age-related blindness

People afraid of a poor eye-sight in their old age should consider taking Omega-3, regularly. A new study has found Omega-3 fatty acids reduced risk of AMD, the most common cause of blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
European researchers report that eating oily fish at least once a week may cut the risk of a condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is the major cause of blindness and poor vision in old age.
Age-related macular degeneration is of two types, wet AMD and dry AMD. The dry form is more common and can progress to wet AMD later on.
In dry AMD light-sensitive cells in the macula break down in a slow manner eventually leading to complete loss of central vision. In wet AMD abnormal blood vessels behind the retina penetrate the macula and sometimes leak blood and other fluid damaging the macula.

Greater risk to women
Women appear to be at an increased risk for AMD. Additional risk factors include family history, smoking and obesity. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and their colleagues in seven European countries analyzed the association between fish intake and omega 3 fatty acids in wet AMD.
They found eating oily fish at least once a week reduced the risk of wet AMD by 50 percent. Participants were asked about their intake of omega 3 fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Furthermore people who ate more than 300 mg of DHA and EPA had a 70 percent lower risk of developing wet AMD.

Major cause of blindness
Age-Related Macular Degeneration or AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people aged over 55. Although the condition is diagnosed quite early, there is no clue if it will progress to vision loss.
Age-related macular degeneration usually affects elderly people. The disease is painless and is linked to loss of central vision because of damage to a part of the eye called macula. The macula is important in distinguishing finer details of vision.